The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-01-07
INCREASING IN FAVOR.
Octy Cohen Tells How People Are Pay
ing More Attention to Sports.

ing More Attention to Sports.
Especial Correspondence
New YORK, JAN No one who has not
looked thoroughly into the subject can form
any adequate conception of the important
part which sporting matters have come to
play in the makeup Of the average daily
newspaper. 1t is not by any means an UNI
usual thing to see an entire page Of some of
the best of the metropolitan Sunday papers
given over exclusively to the discussion of
sporting events, past and to come Rowing
billiards, wrestling, foot and horse facing,
jumping, pugilism, bicycling and yachting,
all have their devoted admirers who r1gerly
scan the columns Of theft fayd Ssst
the information of the doings of the d hlctes
in the particular branch of sport foJ which
they may have preference. Without q
doubt the turf has more followers than the
cinder path, the wrestling mattress, the prize
ring or the wheel. Next to horse racing in
general popularity comes boxing, and after
that, bicycling. But pedestrianism, while
not having, in any one of its subdivisions, as
many admirers as some other sports, never
theless is very popular, and it is question
whetherif sprinting, walking, and go-as-you-
please are all included) it is not more popu-
lar than any other branch of sport except
horse racing.
The class of men, too, who visit athletic ex
hibitions is getting better with each succeed
ing year, and at the entertainments given by
our leading athletic clubs the soinber colors
Of the mems clothing are usually relieved by
the bright bonnets and gowns of the fair sex,
who not infrequently attend In considerable
numbers.
Even at the soMled "blutal exhibitions"
which were at one time held in Madison
Square garden, and Wholesome of them at
least-were in reality nothing more than
scientific exhibitions Of the manly art of self
defense, some Of the best people of this city
might always be seen. Hon. Roscoe Conkling
and several prominent metropolitan jour-
nalists, whose very names are household
words, have been present at many of the SEN
tertainments" given at the garden" under
the auspices of professor" John L. Sullivan.
Almost every youngster in the land knows
how to play baseball and, what is better
does play it. Baseball, like any other athletic
exercise, is an aid to digestion, with attend
ant good health. In almost every school in
the land, which is conducted on modern prin-
ciples, the tiniest toddlers are taught calls
themes and take as kindly to it as duck does
to the water. And this is as it should be. The
boys, and the girls, too, for that matter should
be encouraged to exercise frequently outdoors
whenever possible. Let the boys run, wrestle,
box, jump and play baseball. The girls can
amuse themselves with lawn tennis, tricycle.
riding, Or even by playing the time honored
"tag" OF all exercises, however, for the de-
velopment of the human frame, there is not
IL.
such uniform benefit to all portions of the
body as swimming. Every child over
years of age should be taught to swim and
allowed to go into the water once day DUR
ing the summer months.
OCTY Cohen